Heritage Group North Inc (HGN) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Pine River, MN.The purpose of HGN is to explore the history of the greater Pine River area and to share and interpret that heritage in ways that promote public appreciation of the past, stimulate heritage tourism and fuel local economic development. Mailing address - PO Box 266, Pine River, MN 56474

Feel free to join HGN - membership forms are on our facebook page - heritage group north - print out the photo and send in on in.

Make a tax deductible donation to HGN using Paypal - heritagegroupnorth@gmail.com

Glenn A. Glover is often called “Pine River’s first photographer.” He began taking photos in the Pine River area in the early 1900s using a glass plate negative camera. Among his subjects were fishing and hunting scenes, Pine River businesses, and some of the first automobiles in town. The Glenn Glover family recently gifted his historical collection of 118 negative plates to Heritage Group North (HGN).

HGN will undertake the cleaning, digital conversion, and identification of the negatives with the assistance of a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant awarded to HGN through the Minnesota Historical Society. The grant finances the purchase of archival-quality materials and containers for the delicate negatives, and steel shelving units to abet the storage of these and other HGN collections.

HGN has received numerous Legacy Grants:

The Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants Program has been made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.

HGN is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to preserving community history and identity through various projects, programs, and displays. Among HGN’s most visible works are the restored railroad depot, the caboose, the historic fire-engine display, and HGN’s walking tours. If you enjoy history and are supportive of community development, please consider making a donation or joining HGN. The modest dues are $10 a year for general membership. HGN also seeks volunteers.

May 22, 2010 – the exterior of the building is almost complete.Alan & Pat Johnson, Joan Helms and Phyllis Helms helped prepare the interior boards for installation.Electrical work and insulation were completed the following week.

Photo taken April 30, 2010.Thanks to Paul’s Large Garage for painting the signs and to Caleb Peterson for helping Jerry Peterson install them this evening.

Great News – On March 31st, 2010, HGN was informed that it had been awarded the “Minnesota Beautiful Grant” from the Central MN Initiative Foundation and Valspar Corporation.

HGN was awarded 55 gallons of Valspar paint - used to paint the exterior of the Caboose, both inside & outside of the Horse-drawn Fire Engine Display structure.

(This structure was built in late April/early May of 2010.)The basement of the Depot was also painted

HGN Board Members, Steve Cox and Jerry Peterson, met with the Valspar Paint Tech to discuss paint finishes, areas for application and arrange for paint pickup in Minneapolis around May 1st.

Plans for prepping the Caboose and the Depot interior were made and a HGN meeting was scheduled at the Pine River Legion Clubon April 20th, 2010 to discuss the project.

Valspar paint can be purchased locally at Gardiner's Hardware Hank. Please let Gary & Janice know that you were referred by Heritage Group North's website!

HGN’s initial project, the Restoration of the Pine River Depot and the revitalization of the Pine River Switchyard, (the town’s old railroad “switchyard”) continues to be a major focus.This project occupies a highly visible area near the center of the community.HGN has taken steps to “switch” that unused space into something exciting and attractive.The former railroad mainline has become a celebrated state trail – the Paul Bunyan Trail, and the Pine River Switchyard is a growingattraction,with the now fully Restored Depot anchoringthe site.